Apricot-cutter



APRICOT CUTTER.

- APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 1920.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

151w??? C'harks J 7 Garman UNITED .STATES,

CHARLES VF. GARMAN, or VENTURA, CALIFORNIA.

APRICOT-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent. .Patented J an. 11, '1921.

Application filed May 10, 1920. Serial no. 380,040.

To all whom. it 777(t concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. GARMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ventura, in the county of Ventura. and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in Apricot-Cutters, of whichthe following is a pecification.

This invention relates to a mechanism adapted to cut or split fruithaving pits, thereby placing the fruit in condition for extraction ofthe pits.

In conserving fruit having pits, it is the present practice to preparethe same by cutting the meat around the pit so as to divide the fruit inhalves, then for the pitter to break open the fruit and extract the pitswith his or her fingers. Vithsoft fruit, such as apricots, the fruit isoften crushed and bruised during the pitting operation. Such work iscommonly performed manually and the time required and expense thereof isconsiderable. Moreover, the fruit must be handled while ripe-and thesecuring of a sufiicient number of pitters immediately upon ripening ofthe fruit is a problem diflicult of solution. It is the primary objectof my invention to provide a machine to cut the fruit and deliver it tothe pitters, who may break open the out fruit and extract the pits.Another object of thisinvention is to provide a machine, in which thefruit is continuously operated upon. This invention depends primarilyupon the principle of rolling fruit over a knife.

These objects will be more fully under stood, as will also other objectsand corresponding accomplishments of my invention, from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof. For the purposeof this description, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the parts of a machine essential to myinvention; Fig. 2 is a section as seen on the line 2-2 of Fig.

1; F ig. 3 is an elevation partly in mediansection on an enlarged scaleshowing details of the carrier, chute, and knife; and Fig. 4; is anenlarged section as seen on the line 41-4 of Fig. 3.

Referrin more particularly to Figs. 1

and 2, a firamework of any suitable construction is indicated by A.Mounted therein is the cutting mechanism indicated generally by B. Anendless conveyer is dis posed beneath the discharge end of the cut- Iting mechanism for receiving cut fruit and is indicated generally by C.Disposed beneath the conveyer is a tray, indicated by D for receivingthe pitted fruit.

Referring more particularly to the details of thisconstruction, aV-shaped chute 5 is disposed in the frame inclining downwardly so'thatfruit will tend to travel downwardly in the chute by gravity. The chuteis constructed with an opening to receive a knife blade 6, which extendsupwardly in the -middle thereof. Means are provided for adjusting theheight of the knife edge in conformity with the size of the fruit to becut and the size of the pit. The knife blade should be so arranged thatthe cutting edge thereof will extend through the meat of the fruit andto the pit, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 1, the fruit being indicated byE. The knife blade is provided with elongated openings through whichextend bolts 7, the bolts passing through openings in flanges 8 on thechute. The mode of adjustment is obvious from the construction shown.

Journaled in the framework above the chute are sprocket wheels 9 and 10.These sprocket wheels are preferably provided with shrouds to maintain achain 11. therein. In the construction shown herein, the chain iscomposed of links in the form of open ended troughs.- These links arearranged to travel over the chute 5 and parallel thereto for a distance,embracing the fruit E. In order to provide a positive drive for thecarrier, each link is provided with a tooth 12 to engage with'the spacesbetween the teeth on the'sprocket wheels 9 and 16. However, I do notconfine myself to this particular type of carrier, or the partlcularmeans for driving the same.

naled in the frame and having a pulley 14 serving as a drive pulley.Pulley 14 may be Sprocketwheel 10 is mounted upon a shaft 13 ]OllI-shaft 16 journaled in the frame A. Fixed .to one end of the shaft 16 isa pulley 17 belted to a pulley 18 fixed to shaft 13. Thus, shafts 13 and15 aredriven from the pulley 14;. Fixed to shaft 16 is a roller 19, and

journaledin the opposite end of frame 15 is an idler roller 20; Anendless conveyer belt 21 is passed over rollers 19 and 20. It is evidentthat rotation of shaft 16 Wlll drive the conveyer belt. The frame 15 isers provide for easy removal of full trays supported horizontally at itsouter end by means of stay cables 22.

Extending below the conveyer and parallel thereto are rails 23 havingrollers 24 journaled thereon. A tray D may be placed upon the rollersunderneath the conveyer which is not as wide as the tray. The rollandreplacement by empty trays.-

Apricots or similar fruit are fed to the chute 5 by any suitable means,such as a hopper, not shown. The fruit roll downwardly in the chute,until engaged by the carrier. The carrier then rolls the fruit along thechute and over the knife. A out completely around the fruit extending tothe vpit and dividing the fruit in halves is made by the rolling action.The fruit is discharged from the chute falling upon the conveyer belt21. The fruit drops from the chute upon the conveyer belt, and pitters-who stand upon either side of the belt pick up the fruit, break it andextract the pits. The pits are dropped by the pitters upon the conveyerbelt .and carried to the discharge end thereof. The pitted fruit isplaced in the trays by the pitters, and when the trays are full, theyare withdrawn and em ty ones inserted.

hat I claim is: 1. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a straight way, a knife sefl cured therein with itsexposed edge extending longitudinally thereof to engage fruit or thelike rolling therealong, and an endless belt carrier disposed with oneside parallel to said way for rolling fruit therealong A flexible beltcarrier disposed with one said parallel to said chute for rolling fruittherealong and over said knife.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a chute havingsides converging toward the bottom, a knife adjustably secured in thecenter of said chute with its exposed edge extending longitudinallythereof to engage fruit or the like rolling therealong, and an endlessflexible carrier with side flanges to embrace said fruit for rolling thelatter therealong over said knife.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 1st day of May, 1920.

CHARLES- F. GARMAN.

